SOME OF THE DISEASES
PREVENTING AND COMPLICATION PREGNANCY [Diseases Preventing &
Complicating Pregnancy]

Transactions Of World
Congress Of Homoeopathic Physicians & Surgeons By Pemberton Dudley

Volume: 1893 May / June

Author: Henry C Aldrich

Subject: General Topics

Remedy: ==

BY
HENRY C. ALDRICH, M.D., MINNEAPOLIS. MINN.

STERILITY.-DeSinety, Treub, Furbinger,
et al., attribute 50 per cent. of unproductive marriages to the husbands,
saying that sterility in the male is more often the cause of barren
marriages than is generally supposed.

This cause of sterility I pass by, as
also sterility due to mechanical obstruction, incomplete ovulation and the
numerous other causes of this condition, too manifold for mere
enumeration, to consider obesity as a causative agent in this condition. I
need not say that the advocates for surgical interference for the relief
of this condition are legion. Sims makes the assertion that sterility can
be cured by surgical means only. That, of course, is Allopathic arguing
pure and simple. Cases requiring surgical interference do arise, but any
treatment which raises the nutrition of the entire organism, improves the
blood-formation, and favors the resorption of pathological products in the
sexual organs, is to be regarded as the indicated remedy.

Published statements are my authority
for saying that excellent results have followed the administration of
drugs, nevertheless; and in complete defiance of all therapeutic measures,
a certain percentage of women remain barren; for with the more occult
causes of sterility we remain, as yet, unacquainted, consequently they
cannot all be reached with say kind of treatment whatever.

The following case I report somewhat in
detail. Whilst not an exceptional case at all, it bears directly upon the
subject under consideration, and possesses, it seems to me, some decidedly
interesting features. My object in selecting this particular one is to
call attention, if possible, to a condition not sufficiently considered.
Mrs. J., aet. 26, married about two years and a half, appealed to my
knowledge for a reason as to why she remained childless. The lady was
carrying an excess of flesh, being under the medium height, and weighing
186 pounds, but appeared to be in good health; family and previous history
all that could be desired. Examination showed none of the common causes of
sterility; neither, so far as I could ascertain, was the husband
responsible for this unproductive condition of affairs. Some previous
experiences of my own, with the added testimony of other and able men, was
my reason for charging this condition of things to the excess of flesh,
this, by the husband, being laughingly charged to excess of laziness.

We all, undoubtedly, are familiar with
that peculiar disease of the blood-corpuscles which, whilst producing
flesh, relaxes at the same time the muscular force; acting also, I
believe, upon the muscular fibres of the uterus and upon the ovaries,
inducing not only serious menstrual disorders but sterility. McKee,
Philbert, and others give several instances of sterility chargeable to
obesity, the women in question having been married several years without
bearing children, and all became mothers after losing a portion of their
flesh. If any other argument were needed in support of this theory we
might turn to the quadrupeds, where we find the poorest breeders among the
fleshiest animals. Fournel has a very able treatise on "The Effects
of Obesity on the Menstrual Functions and Parturition." Without
having had any actual case of this description to deal with, he inclines
very strongly towards the belief that obesity favors sterility. In the
treatment of the case before mentioned, the patient was subjected to a
daily massage of the entire body, with a special pelvic massage three
times a week. This, in the main, consists in elevating the uterus as high
as possible with the finger in the vagina, ending with a quick and decided
vibratory motion. The diet received particular attention, as at this time
there was a slight gastric ailment. The indicated remedy, Thuja, was given
in the minimum dose. At the end of three months almost thirty pounds of
flesh was gone, a considerable reduction. As an experiment, I recommended
coitus in the knee-elbow position, advising that the lady remain quiet as
long as possible after coition, with thighs well flexed. She became
enciente, but miscarried at eight weeks. There was, comparatively
speaking, but little pain and not much subsequent haemorrhage. She made a
rapid recovery. Since then a living child has been born to them.

I believe I am safe in saying that this
result would hardly have obtained were it not for the prophylactic
measures adopted.

At the end of the first two months the
patient was attacked with haemorrhage. A similar occurrence took place at
irregular intervals during the following five months, the quantity of
blood lost being much greater than that at the normal menstrual period.

For the greater part of the last five
months she kept her bed, at the end of which time the tendency of the
uterus to empty itself could be resisted no longer. A seven months' child
was born, and is to-day doing well.

Pseudocyesis cerebral pregnancy,
phantom pregnancy (whatever name we may call it by) is a disease which
must come under the head of those "complicating pregnancy." Mrs.
M., a lady, married two or three years, aet. 29. Previous history good,
always enjoying perfect health. When I first saw the lady in question she
was a perfect picture of health, and, according to appearance and her own
statements, about seven months pregnant. I made no examination. This
appeared to be a thoroughly intelligent woman, and, according to her own
statement, there was cessation of the menses. There certainly was an
enlargement of the abdomen and breasts, a milky secretion, and the lady
was sure that she felt foetal movement. On February 28th of the present
year I was called to attend her in labor. Examination showed that no
pregnancy existed. So far as I could ascertain there was no assignable
origin for this condition other than nervous influences, the phenomena
being purely muscular distension of the abdomen.

Mayham reports a case of a woman 73
years old, claiming to be pregnant; he also claims that subsequently she
was delivered of a child; this is an Allopathic report, however, of which
we will take a Homoeopathic dose. Haultain reports three cases of cerebral
pregnancy. In the first, he says no cause whatever was to be found; in the
second, there was a small fibroid growth in the anterior uterine wall.
Hauck reports a case where the vomiting, peristalsis, and flatus, caused
by alcoholism were supposed to be caused by the pregnant state. Such cases
are uncommon, but they emphasize the importance of making a thorough
examination, in all cases where positive information is desired of the
existence or non-existence of pregnancy.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum.-An animated
discussion, held recently between two celebrated Allopaths of Stuttgart
and Leipsic, has served to awaken a renewed interest in this subject,
without in the least adding anything new to our stock of knowledge
regarding its aetiology. Notwithstanding the frequency of the vomiting of
pregnancy, its very distressing character in many instances, and its
imminent, its very distressing character in many instances, and its
imminent danger, we find but very few contributions of any value, to
either the aetiology of the disorder or its therapeutics. I do not expect
to add anything specially new myself, but it does seem to me that our
knowledge of the vomiting of pregnancy, is to say the least, in a most
contradictory state. Some physicians look upon it as a trifling matter,
others as a thing to be endured, and some-these are in the right too-view
even the mildest cases with gravity. Even in the mildest cases of morning
sickness there is a constant drain upon the nervous system, putting the
sufferer into a condition, in which she is very much less able to endure
parturition than she would otherwise have been.

Dr. Harrison Mettler says: "After
careful inquiry I find that women who suffer from much morning sickness
have as a rule, tedious or otherwise troublesome labors. I have observed
in multiparae that at one time they will have much nausea and vomiting
followed by a difficult labor, while at another time they will be quite
free from the vomiting, and will pass through the succeeding labor with
comparative ease." I must say my observations make me agree with Dr.
Mettler entirely; when one thinks how rapidly the mildest of cases assume
pernicious forms, indifference is certainly no longer to be excused. There
is a voluminous literature upon this subject, and many and varied are the
aetiological reasons given for this very variable affection, a large
majority of writers coinciding in the opinion that "many causes
operate together," to produce what we are pleased to designate the
"vomiting of pregnancy." I believe myself that in a large
percentage of cases, this pernicious vomiting is simply the result of a
reflex neurosis. Undoubtedly uterine displacements frequently cause
vomiting; but when this is so, and the displaced organ is raised by
packing the vagina with aseptic wool, the vomiting ceases.

Lillie reports a number of cases, where
obstinate vomiting was caused by a retroflexed uterus, and restoration of
the organ caused a cessation of the disorder. Bezugloff having a
persistent case of morning sickness, introduced a bougie it no the uterus,
the intention being to produce abortion; the immediate result was a
stoppage of the vomiting, and the pregnancy went on to full term.

In the case just cited, I must say that
I believe it was the fright, caused by the thought of abortion being
performed, more than the effects of introducing the bougie, which operated
so successfully; I say now, as I said before, I believe that the
pre-eminent cause of this kind of sickness must be looked for i the
nervous system. Flint speaks of this form of sickness as being decidedly
neurotic in its origin, and cites a number of cases of a chronic variety
of dyspepsia frequently occurring in young girls. I had one such case come
under my personal care. There was a persistent morning sickness, with this
young lady, and a disagreeable nausea whenever food was taken; this
patient was at some distance from her home, in a boarding school, and she
will probably never know that the lady principal entertained very grave
thoughts at one time in regard to her virtue. It certainly was very
difficult to differentiate between this and the vomiting of pregnancy; it
was, however, simply due to a vitiated nervous system. My theory is
supported by Alt, who records a number of such cases; I cite one only, the
case being that of a highly hysterical woman, six months pregnant,
suffering from the gravest vomiting, and anxious that miscarriage be
induced. She was making preparation for entering the hospital for this
purpose, when one of her children was seized with pneumonia. The anxiety
felt over the child, forced all thought of self from the mother's mind;
from that moment the vomiting ceased and she remained well until the
termination of pregnancy.-Minchener Medicinische Wochenschrift.

Whilst saying that I believe this
disease to be in the majority of cases of purely nervous origin, I would
not imply thereby that it is not to be feared, far from it; if neglected,
we know how likely it is to pass quickly beyond treatment and our patient
succumb from sheer exhaustion.

In the treatment cited such as
insertion of bougies, dilation of the os, pelvic massage, etc., I believe
it is merely the "doing something," no matter much what it is,
so long as you have gained the confidence of your patient, that does good.
We have seen how suddenly Hyperemesis will cease if the patient be
alarmed; it may be, has often been, and will to again, cured by a process
skin to suggestion. Kattenback had a case where the patient, a primipara,
was seized with an incorrigible vomiting. It was suggested to her that her
stomach contained some lumps of unwholesome material and their removal
would cure her. Some milk was given her, and the stomach ceremoniously
washed out. its contents bore no indications of either over-acidity or
abnormal ferment She was informed that she was all right and the vomiting
would not return; neither did if, and she was safely delivered at term.

There is a familiar and now well-know
phenomena, by which these neurotics can be influenced; I speak of
hypnotism; it is due to purely subjective conditions.

There is an identity of the hypnotic
susceptibility with the condition of hysteria, and it is along these lines
that we can work. Just as many times as I have tried this method of
treatment, for these cases of excessive vomiting, just so many times has
it given me gratifying results.

The patient can be to sleep by
bi-ocular pressure, and the idea of cure suggested; the operation may have
to be repeated several times, at intervals of a day or so, but you will be
rewarded by the cessation of the vomiting, often with but one suggestion.
Where the patient is not easily controlled by means of the bi-ocular
pressure, Luy's revolving mirror is a never failing resource.